Portable drinking fountain



Feb. 27, 1951 J HUNNEMAN, JR, 2,543,025

PORTABLE DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed Jan. 13, 1948 v 3' $7////// d fi Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT other My present invention relates generally to portable drinking fountains designed to cooperate with a water faucet of any size or style, and more particularly to an improved construction embodying a novel arrangement including means to cause a stream of water to flow in fountain-like form, in combination with alternate means, such for example, as tooth-brushing means.

In prior developments in this art, as illustrated in patents to John R. I-Iunneman, Sr., Nos. 2,144,062, issued January 1'7, 1939, and 2,145,306, issued January 31, 1939, portable drinking fountains are shown comprising a semi-circular closed conduit or tube adapted to receive Water through one end and dispense the same in a bubbling flow through the other end, in combination with an extension handle for holding purposes.

I have found that such prior devices, in addition to being diflicult to clean and keep sanitary, have been rather limited in scope, functioningchiefly as a rinsing aid following a toothbrushing operation or as a drinking medium when facilities are such that sanitary receptacles are unavailable.

In accordance with the above, therefore, I have devised my present improved and simplified portable bubbler out of a synthetic plastic material, such as Lucite, Plexiglas, or the like, which combines the features of transparency, attractiveness, and cleanliness, and which I have discovered is ideally suited to this particular art, and in an integral unit have designed a new and useful interchangeable product, and economical in construction and manufacture.

A primary object of my invention, therefore, is to incorporate in a unitary construction a portable drinking fountain which may be adapted to cooperate with any style of water faucet to provide a fountain for drinking purposes, and which may include an additional function, such, by way of illustration, as a tooth brush.

Another main object of my invention resides in the shape and structure of my novel bubbling means, whereby a stream of water may be properly directed into convenient drinking position, and whereby cleaning is facilitated and sanitation thus assured.

Another chief object of my invention pertains to the attractive appearance of the article, its convenient shape and handy size, its simple unitary construction, and its inexpensive cost.

Further features and details of construction will be hereinafter more fully pointed out in the accompanying description and defined in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein I show preferred embodiments of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention in association with a diagrammatic view of a faucet spout and illustrating the water conduit and the handle portion at right angles to each other;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modification of my invention including a tooth brush, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of this modification, partly in cross-section.

In the drawings, l0 designates a handle formed of a suitable synthetic plastic material, preferably tapered outwardly at one end to provide a gripping portion l I, and supporting at the opposite end a preferred form of my liquid conducting conduit I2. Although I have shown the conduit I2 as extending perpendicularly to said handle Hl, it should be noted that such conduit may be arranged at any degree of angle to said handle, even in vertical relation thereto, without in any way deterring from its effectiveness as a bubbling medium.

My novel conduit I2 is specially designed for its stream-receiving and fountain-dispensing functions and comprises an open and substantially semi-circular trough having a gradually sloping receiving end 24 adapted to register with the usual rim l5 of a water faucet l6 and to receive a stream of water ll therefrom, and a delivery end l8 peculiarly constructed with high side portions I9--l9, and a steeply curved central portion 20 -to most efiiciently dispense the stream I! in desired drinking position.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated a modification of my invention in which represent a body portion having formed therein adjacent one end my novel open conduit 28 with a liquid-receiving end 21, and a delivery end 28 of a configuration approximating that explained above in describing Figs. 1 and 2, and having the opposite end constructed and arranged in the style of a tooth brush with bristles 29 secured therein. If desired, I may drill a hole 30 as shown so that my device may be conveniently hung on a hook, or the like, either in the handle 25 or ID.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised a distinctly new and useful article which may be used interchangeably as a portable drinking fountain or as a toothbrush, the portion of my device not in use being adapted to serve as a convenient handle during the alternate operation, and it is believed that my unit will prove a valued sanitary accessory for use when travel- 3 ing, camping, or the like, as well as in the home, ofilce, store, or factory, and may be readily carried in the pocket or stored in a convenient location when not in use.

I claim:

A portable drinking fountain of the kind described, adapted for cooperation in detached relation with a water-delivery faucet, re-directing the water flow downwardly from saidfaucet to a substantially vertical fountain-drinking direction, comprising a handle formed with the fountain-efiecting means at one end, consisting in an open liquid guiding trough curved along the bottom portion with side flanges formed with the top portion on a curve of shorter radius than said bottom curve, said bottom curve merging from a water-intake portion to a substantially vertical delivery portion, said intake portion having a 4 relatively thin end and low side flanges to con tact with and receive an appropriate flow from said faucet, and the water delivery end having relatively high flanges at the vertical face of the delivery portion.

JOHN R. HUNNEMAN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

